Pondicherry is situated on the southeast coast of India. It is also referred to as Puducherry, a Union Territory. The area was under French Colonial rule and signs of this influence are still found in the local cuisine, culture, and architecture. The city is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal on its east. The key features of Pondicherry are-
- Auroville.
- French quarters.
- Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
- Bharathi Park.
- Promenade Beach.
I lived in Pondicherry for a few months and have made multiple trips to the city. I tried to learn as much as I could about the dentistry colleges situated in Pondicherry. I received information from some friends, acquaintances, and colleagues who had an idea about these colleges.
I will try my best to include in this post all the information and the details as I am aware of the dental colleges in Puducherry.
Despite the article’s length, I want you to use the table of contents below to read it through from start to finish.
Contents
List of Dental Colleges in Pondicherry
There are a total of three dental colleges in Pondicherry. Out of the 3, 1 is a government dental college and the other two are private dental institutions. I will be briefing on each college further in the article.
| Name of College | Type of College |
| Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences | Private |
| Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences | Government |
| Sri Venkateshwara Dental College | Private |
| College Type | Government |
| Establishment Year | 1995 |
| Affiliation | Pondicherry University (Central University) |
| Recognition | Dental Council of India (DCI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare & Government of India |
| Student Intake | 100 for BDS 17 for MDS |
| Courses | BDS MDS |
| Distance From Nearest Railway Station | 6 km from Puducherry railway station |
| Distance From the Nearest Bus Stand | 450 m from the Vasanthapuram Outer Ring Road bus stand |
| Nearest Airport | Puducherry Airport |
Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences has dedicated itself to quality education, patient care, research, and community service since its founding in 1990. The institute offers a serene campus that offers a pleasant environment for an improved educational experience. The goal is to be the leader in dental education and oral health care worldwide, hence the institution puts a strong emphasis on providing students with good-quality education and learning environments so that the students can share their learning in professional studies, research, and innovation.
This dental college is a government institution of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. It is affiliated with the central university, Pondicherry University, and is recognized by the Dental Council of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
The facilities provided by Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences are as follows:
- Air-conditioned library.
- Hospital and Healthcare.
- Auditorium.
- Lecture Halls.
- Hostels.
- Mess.
- Cafeteria.
- Sports.
- Bank services.
- Dental camps.
- Yoga.
Fee structure for BDS and MDS at Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences:
| Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | Around 29,000 per annum |
| Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) | Approx 1 lakh per annum |
The MDS branches available are:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
- Oral Medicine and Radiology.
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.
- Periodontics.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
| College Type | Private |
| Establishment Year | 2007 |
| Affiliation | Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (deemed to be university), Pondicherry |
| Recognition | Dental Council of India & Government of India |
| Accreditation | NAAC ‘A++’ Grade |
| Student Intake | 100 for BDS |
| Courses | BDS MDS |
| Distance From Nearest Railway Station | 9 km from Tirupadripulyur railway station |
| Distance From the nearest Bus Stand | 300 m from the MGM Hospital bus stand |
| Nearest Airport | Puducherry Airport |
Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences is a private dental college affiliated with Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth which is a deemed-to-be university. The college was established in the year of 2007 and has since been recognized by the Dental Council of India. It is located on the campus of Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital. It also has a NAAC Accreditation of Grade ‘A++’. The college has a well-established infrastructure which in return provides excellent learning opportunities for its students.
IGIDS is a rapidly growing international institute with a high regard for producing future dental leaders by offering high-quality dental education in a suitable environment. These future dentists are going to bring change, are sensitive dental practitioners, and are self-directed learners. The young and enthusiastic teachers serve as compassionate mentors, role models, and facilitators in a variety of ways. The school uses a modern dentistry curriculum that incorporates formative assessment with useful feedback from changes, early clinical experience, integrated learning, competency-based training, and a supportive online learning environment. The Institute is housed in expansive buildings with fully operational dental chairs, advanced equipment for patient care and research, and a well-stocked library.
The following facilities are made available for the students by the college:
- Hostel.
- Lecture and seminar halls.
- Laboratories.
- Healthcare.
- Museum.
- ATM and Bank.
- Hi-tech buses.
- Indoor and Outdoor games.
- Library.
- Anti-ragging and Ethics Committee.
Fee structure for BDS and MDS at Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences:
| Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | 4 lakhs – 5 lakhs per annum |
| Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) | 4 lakhs – 12 lakhs per annum |
The MDS course is offered in the following departments:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
- Oral Medicine and Radiology.
- Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry.
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.
- Periodontology.
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.
- Prosthodontics Crown and Bridge.
- Public Health Dentistry.
- Oral Pathology and Microbiology.
| College Type | Private |
| Establishment Year | 2014 |
| Affiliation | Pondicherry University |
| Recognition | Dental Council of India & Government of India |
| Student Intake | 100 for BDS |
| Courses | BDS MDS |
| Distance From Nearest Railway Station | 3 km from Chinna Babu Samudram railway station |
| Distance From Nearest Bus Stand | 3 km from Ariyur Medical College bus station |
| Nearest Airport | Puducherry Airport |
Sri Venkateshwara Dental College is a private dental institution that was founded in 2014. It is connected to the University of Pondicherry. Under the Ramachandra Educational Trust, it was first established. Students get access to top-quality educational programs at the college. Periodic dental camps and examinations are conducted. Students are taught by qualified specialists, and the college provides appropriate dental chairs and equipment.
The college’s vision is to become a dental school of distinction by training students to be globally competent, transferring necessary skills through professional and skilled faculty members, and encouraging moral behavior and the pursuit of ethical research. Consequently, supporting the process of nation-building as a whole.
The facilities offered by the institution are:
- Library.
- Laboratory.
- Lecture hall.
- Transportation.
- Hostel and mess.
- Sports
- Mobile dental clinic
- Gymnasium.
- ATM.
Fee structure of Sri Venkateshwara Dental College, Pondicherry
| Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | 3 lakhs- 5 lakhs per annum |
| Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) | 3 lakhs – 9 lakhs per annum |
MDS is offered in the following departments:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
- Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry.
- Periodontology.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology.
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.
- Oral Medicine and Radiology.
- Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge.
- Public Health Dentistry.
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.
Admission Procedure to Dental Colleges in Pondicherry
There are different admission processes for both BDS and MDS courses. I will talk about this in greater detail below. There are two types of counselling; All India counselling and State counselling.
How to Apply for Admission to BDS Colleges in Pondicherry?
To be eligible for admission to any private dental college in Pondicherry, the student must pass both the 10 + 2 board exam by securing 50% and the NEET-UG entrance exam with a minimum qualifying score.
For admission to the government dental college in Pondicherry, the candidate has to secure a higher rank and higher marks in the NEET-UG examination. The cut-off for 2024 will be announced only after the conduction of the exam.
Before being admitted to any college, if you satisfy the minimal eligibility standards, you will have to go through the entire counseling process. The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) is in charge of the state counseling procedure for Pondicherry.
The Medical Counselling Committee of India oversees the All India Counseling program. Through the All India Counselling process, students who score higher on the NEET-UG examination can apply for government seats.
How to Apply for Admission to MDS Colleges in Pondicherry?
A minimum qualifying score on the NEET-MDS entrance exam is a prerequisite for admission to any dental college department. In addition, you need to have finished your bachelor’s degree at a dental college approved by the Dental Council of India and be a certified dental practitioner with any State Dental Council.
If you satisfy the fundamental qualifying standards, you will have to go through the counseling process, which is also managed by the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC).
As mentioned earlier, students with higher scores can apply, based on their position and marks, to the government dental college of Pondicherry. They have to apply through the All India Counselling process.
Steps in the Counselling Process for taking admission to dental colleges in Pondicherry:
Once you have achieved a qualifying score in the NEET-UG and NEET-MDS entrance exams, you have to go through the entire counseling process. You have the opportunity to reserve a seat ahead of time for the counseling process, which will make things more appropriate and easier for you to follow. This will also enable the institution to advise you on appropriate arrangements during these processes.
- Step 1 – Registration.
- Step 2 – Pay the required amount for both the security and registration fees.
- Step 3 – Verification of the documents is the third step.
- Step 4 – Selecting and filling.
- Step 5 – Seat distribution.
If you have any questions regarding these steps in the course of the process, feel free to let me be your guide and be of assistance.
Documents Required for Dental Admission in Pondicherry
These are the documents required:
1. For BDS:
- 10th marks card.
- 10+2 marks card.
- NEET-UG admit card.
- NEET-UG scorecard.
- Pass certificate.
- Migration certificate.
- Transfer certificate.
- Caste certificate. (if applicable)
- Character certificate.
2. For MDS:
- 10th marks card.
- 10+2 marks card.
- NEET-PG scorecard.
- NEET-PG admit card.
- Internship Completion Certificate.
- State Dental Council registration.
- Provisional degree/Permanent degree certificate.
- Migration certificate.
- Caste certificate. (if applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many dental colleges are there in Pondicherry?
There are a total of 3 dental colleges in Pondicherry; Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, and Sri Venkateshwara Dental College.
2. How many airports are there to Pondicherry?
The Puducherry Airport is the only airport in Pondicherry.
3. What is the cut-off for applying for BDS to dental colleges in Pondicherry?
For the NEET-UG 2023, the cutoff scores were 137 for general and 136, and 107 for OBC, SC, and ST. The 2024 NEET-UG exam has not been conducted yet so the results are not out. Only after the NEET-UG 2024 entrance exam results will the cut-off be announced.
4. Which are the private dental colleges in Pondicherry?
Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences and Sri Venkateshwara Dental College are the two private colleges in Pondicherry.
5. How many government dental colleges are there in Pondicherry?
There is only one government dental college in Pondicherry, that is, Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences.
6. What are the fees of dental colleges in Pondicherry?
The fee structure of private dental colleges in Pondicherry ranges from an average of 3 lakhs to 5 lakhs per annum for the course of BDS. The yearly fee for government colleges is around 1 lakh.
7. Which are the deemed dental colleges in Pondicherry?
The only deemed dental college in Pondicherry is Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences.
8. What is the fee structure of MDS in dental colleges in Pondicherry?
The fees for the non-clinical branches—oral medicine and radiology, oral pathology, and public health dentistry—range from 3 lakhs to 4 lakhs annually. The fees for the clinical branches—orthodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, pedodontics, periodontics, conservative dentistry, and endodontics—range from 6 lakhs to 14 lakhs annually.
The fee of government colleges is much lower.
Conclusion
I tried to pack in as much information as I could on the private and government dental colleges in Pondicherry.
The information shown above is derived from my own experiences as well as the opinions of coworkers, classmates, and other students who may have heard about these universities or are now enrolled in them.
Please contact the students and share this information with them if you believe it to be accurate and significant. I might be able to broaden and extend my network in this way, which would contribute to my development.
You can also assist me by making comments below; I’ll answer them and try to be of assistance to you.
